This Christmas, good old fashioned hugs will be topping the gift charts. If you’ve waited a long time to see interstate friends and family (or are still waiting to access international loved ones), a simple squeeze will make the best present of all.

But what about your inner elf? That gleeful little giver who’s all about wrapping pressies, popping them under the tree and watching your kid, partner or dear old Granny open something special on Christmas day? A hug might not quite cut the mustard.

The good news is, you can satisfy the urge to give something tangible while honouring health, eco-friendliness and local businesses (who could really use your support post-Covid) at the same time. 

Check out our list of 17 conscious gift ideas, from caramel-coated popcorn to conversation cards, and don’t forget to bestow the biggest bear hug when you hand ‘em over.

(Oh, and just so you know, everything below is simply stuff we like — nothing cross promotional or paid. We hope this list makes your last-minute Christmas gifting that little bit easier!)

For the hungry foodie

• Olive Oil

Is it weird to give someone 2L of olive oil? Not at all, especially when you consider what a staple it is. A lovely big bottle of local, organic or top quality olive oil makes a superbly practical gift — and you’ll be contributing healthy monounsaturated fats to your loved one’s diet, too.

Get it in bulk from The Source and make your own personalised label or try Pendleton Fine Foods or anything from Adelaide Farmers Market.

• Chocolate everything

Make a hamper of chocolate everything for the cacao-addict in your life. From cacao powder to nibs, cacao butter to locally-made bliss balls, you can’t go wrong with a box of everyone’s favourite brown stuff.

• Fancy nuts

Just like olive oil, nuts are a hot household commodity. Buy some good quality almonds, cashews and macadamias and roast them in honey and salt; or try your hand at chocolate-covered nuts and store them in one of those cool vintage biscuit tins you find in op shops.

For the self-care guru

• Stationery

Journalling is a brilliant way to know thyself and plan for the future. Similarly, a good pen can make writing a joy — and as an added bonus, fountain pens with refillable ink are better for the environment. 

For the stationery obsessed person in your life, head to Pencraft in Adelaide Arcade and pick just about anything.

• Books

Books are food for the mind and timeless Christmas present fodder. We have so many amazing independent bookstores here in Adelaide, from purveyors of weathered second hand classics to bright and shiny biographies, hot off the press. 

Try Dillons in Norwood (their staff picks are failsafe), Booknook & Bean (if coffee helps you Christmas shop) or Adelaide’s Pop Up Bookshop (so many gems!).

• Latex pillow

Quality sleep is the foundation of everything, and a good latex pillow can be a gamechanger. We love Naturelle (you may have seen these pillows in our monthly competitions), and think your sleep deprived family and friends will love them too.

• Meditation cushion

A Zafu, or meditation cushion, is a firm-but-comfy way to raise your derriere off the floor while meditating. They come in all kinds of fabrics and colours, and are usually filled with buckwheat hulls for the perfect natural support. It could be the gift that inspires your friend to finally commit to their meditation practice.

If you’re handy with a sewing machine you can make your own, or there are some lovely options on Etsy.

For the environmental warrior

• Reusable drink bottle

You might think that everyone has a reusable drink bottle by now, but we know plenty of folks who have lost or misplaced theirs, or are simply due for an upgrade. 

If you’re interested to know which drink bottle was voted #1, check out this Choice article. Handy!

• Beeswax wraps

Give someone the gift of natural, compostable, chemical-free and long-lasting food wrap with this heavenly-scented alternative to cling film. 

You can make beeswax wraps out of colourful fabric offcuts and ingredients from your local health food store, and it’s an especially fun project to do with older kids. We like this technique.

• National Parks Pass

Is there someone in your life who just can’t get enough of nature? Give them unlimited adventures around our remarkable state with a National Parks Pass. 

For the curious at heart

• Online learning pass

Never stop learning. There are so many amazing educational platforms out there offering everything from cinematography and acting to botany and nutrition. A subscription to Masterclass or Skillshare could be just the geeky gift for a lifelong learner who’ll love you forever.

• Conversation cards

The School of Life made 100 Questions famous, but you can also create your own conversation cards using thick paper and coloured pens (we’ve compiled some juicy questions to help get you started here). 

The idea is to have a pack of personal, philosophical and otherwise interesting questions on hand for family gatherings, dinner parties or times when you’d like to move past smalltalk. It’s amazing the stories people will tell you when you simply ask.

For the frugal hedonist

• Handmade condiments

If you’re a flavour whiz and have lots of spare jars or containers at home, consider making and gifting handmade condiments that are 10 x more special than store bought. Try:

• Infused oils like rosemary, thyme or garlic
• Herbal vinegars made with apple cider vinegar and herbs like pine needles, sage or dandelion
• Spice rubs with sea salt, nigella, paprika and all manner of aromatics
• Basil pesto
• Nut butters
• Caramel coated popcorn (this recipe is the best!)

• Backyard blooms

Sometimes the simplest things are the best things. If you have summer blooms erupting in your backyard, or even dried grasses, seed pods and foliage, consider hand-picked posies as cheery Christmas gifts that don’t cost a thing.

For the surprise lover

• Art class 

Know someone who loves to draw, paint or play with colour? Do they also like wine? There are so many great art classes in and around Adelaide that make stellar creative gifts at Christmas, and Studio Vino — who know that a few sips of wine can coax out your artistic muse — is a surefire local option.

• Brunch crawl

Treat your bestie to a brunch crawl. Pick a few of your favourite local places to eat and have coffee, make a personalised program, and take your mate on an indulgent weekend trip between cafes to say ‘Happy New Year!’.

• Babysitting

A few hours off duty is priceless for tired parents. If you’re great with kids and feel like shouting your loved ones some alone time, make a ‘voucher’ for a day or night babysitting session that allows them to head off and see a movie, grab dinner, or take a day trip. Expect to become the favourite relative.

Whatever you give this Christmas, we hope you get all the relaxation, sunshine and family reunions you deserve after this trying year. Thank you so much for being a valued member of the Spinecare community in 2020, and here’s to a healthy and happy New Year.